Draft-equalizer.



B. J. BRUNKE. DRAFT EQUALIZER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2a, 1908.

Patented Mar.8,1 910.

Witnesses .uucazw a cam-MM co, PNOYG-UTNOGRAPHER: WASKINGYON a cBENJAMIN J. BRUNKE, 0F CAMPBELL, NEBRASKA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

Application filed February 28, 1908. Serial No. 418,273.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LBENJAMIN J. BRUNKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Campbell, in the county of Franklin, State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention has reference to draft equalizers, and it aimsgenerally to improve the structure shown and described in my priorpatent granted May 28, 1907, and numbered 854,924, the particularimprovements consisting in certain changes in the construction of thedouble-tree, in the manner in which the same is mounted upon the tongueof the vehicle, and in the particular devices employed for connectingthe equalizer bar with the double-tree.

The improved structure will be readily understood from a considerationof the following detailed description, and its preferred embodiment isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding partsare designated by the same reference numerals in the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Figs. 2and 3 are transverse sections taken respectively on the lines 22 and 3-3thereof. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view of one of the spacing blockslocated between the ends of the lower and central members of thedouble-tree.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the tongue orpole of a vehicle, and 2 an angular equalizer bar which is mounted upona transversely-disposed block 3, said bar being held in place thereon bya forwardly-projecting strap 4 whose upwardly-bent front end is providedwith a perforation which registers with one of the series ofperforations .formed in said bar, and with the perforations formed insaid block and in the tongue, the several perforations receiving thepivot-bolt 5 upon which the bar swings. The arms of the equalizer barare of unequal length, as shown. The outermost perforations of theseries are located at the ends of said bar, and in each of suchperforations there is fitted a bolt 6 carrying a hook to which the rearend of a chain 7 is attached, the front ends of the chains beingattached to the corresponding ends of a double-tree, as hereinafterdescribed.

The double-tree, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises lower and central members8 and 9, between which the pole 1 extends, and an upper member 10, thelast mentioned member being spaced centrally from the member 9 by ablock 11. The several members are each formed of a pair of separatelyconstructed sections whose overlapping inner ends are provided withopenings whlch register with each other and with openings formed in thetongue and spacing block 11, throu h which openings the pivot bolt 12exten s, the upper end of said bolt projecting through an opening in theforward end of an upwardly bent strap 13, which is secured at its rearend to the tongue and is disposed in advance of and in alinement withthe strap t above referred to.

Between the adjacent ends of the central and lower members areinterposed metal spacing blocks 14, each of which as shown in Fig. 4,has its upper and lower faces provided with centrally-located seats 15in which the ends of said members are fitted,

said ends being provided with perforations which register withperforations formed through the seats above referred to, for thereception of the connecting bolts 16. The rear end of each spacing blockis connected by a link with the front end of the adjacent chain 7, whilethe front end of each block has pivoted thereto a clevis 17 which isconnected, in turn, to a swingle-tree or doubletree 18, as preferred.

The length of the upper member 10 of the double-tree is such that itsends terminate short of those of the central member 9, to which memberthey are connected by bolts 19.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by reason of theabove-described construction of the doubletree, the several members ofthe latter may be completely detached from each other, thus permittingany member to be removed in the event of injury thereto and replaced bya perfect member without appreciable expense. It will also be apparentthat such construction permits an independent movement of one-half ofthe double-tree, considered as a whole, with respect to the other half,such movement being necessary by reason of the angular formation of theequalizer bar. The provision of the upper member tends to materiallystrengthen the double-tree, as will likewise be obvious, and thusprolong its life.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a tongue and an equalizer bar pivoted theretointermediate itsends, of a doubletree located forwardly of said bar andcomprising lower and central members disposed respectively against theunder and upper faces of the tongue, and an upper member mounted uponthe central member, a spacing block interposed between the upper memberand said central member, said upper member having its endsterinii'iating short of those of the central member and secured to thelatter, said members each consisting of a pair of separately constructedsections having overlapping ends provided with registering perforations,

a pivot bolt passing through the tongue and through said perforationsblock, to effect the pivotal connection of the doubletree with thetongue, transversely arranged spacing blocks interposed between the endsof the central and lower members, bolt-s fastening said blocks and endstogether, a whiifietree connected to the forward end of one of saidblocks, a doubletree connected to the other block, and chains connectingthe rear ends of said blocks with the ends of the equalizer bar.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

BENJAMIN J. BRUNKE Witnesses ORAL YOUNG, TROY L. DAVIS.

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